Vehicle direction signal switch



Aug 12, 1941 I N. D. BENSON I 2,252,245

VEHICLE DIRECTION SIGNAL SWITCH- `Fi'led vJune 8, 1939 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED STATES- OFFICE Application .Func 8, 1939, Serial 278,155

(Cl. Zilli-ETH 5 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle direction signais and more particularly to a manually operated switch therefor.

'.l'he object of this invention is to provide a direction signal of this kind which includes means whereby the operator of the vehicle can readily determine whether the signal is operating so that in the event the signal is not operating, the operator will be able to readily correct the difficulty.

A further object of this invention is to provide a magnetic switch holding means interposed in a signal circuit so as tk hold one switch structure in a selected closed position during the movement of the vehicle, the device including means whereby the magnetic holding means is rendered ineffective upon defect in the signal circuit caused by burning out of one or more of the signal lights.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement oi' parts as will be more specically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein embodiments of the invention are disclosed, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. f

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section partly in de- 9 tall of a magnetically operated switch used with this invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation partly in section of the switch closing and holding means embodied in the structure shown in Figures l and 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the switch returning means embodied in the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing there is disclosed an automatically operable switch structure which is adapted to be initially set manually by the operator of the vehicle and by means of which the operator of the vehicle can readily determine whether the signal lights on one side of the vehicle or the other side are operating. This switch closing structure as shown includes a housing B6 which at one end thereof is provided with a `pair of clamping arms 6'!y having ears 68 through which a bolt 69 engages in order that housing 56 may, if desired, be clamped onto the steering column of the vehicle. A frame structure generally designated as lil formed throughout of insulation material is mounted within the housing ES and includes a vertically disposed plate Il secured to the wail of the housing Bti by fastening devices l2. A bott-0m Vmember 'i3 is secured to the vertical member 'll as by fastening members 14 and an inner insulation member 'l5 is secured to the lower member 'I3 and extends in parallel relation with the vertical member il as by fastening members 76. An upper frame member l1 may be formed integrally with the vertical member 'l5 and extends in the direction of the vertical member 1| and is secured thereto by fastening means 78. An electro-magnetic Coil T9 is secured to the lower frame member E3 by fastening means 80 and a metal core 8l extends about the coil T9 being provided at its upper portion with a substantially annular core portion 82. One end of the coil 19 is connected to a terminal 83 and the other end is connected to a terminal 84. A disc-shaped armature 85 is disposed within the annular portion 82 of the core and a shaft or stern 86 is connected to the armature 85 and extends upwardly7 therefrom. An operating handle 81 is secured to the upper end of the stern or shaft 83 by means of a set screw 88 or other fastening means.

A pair of pilot lights 89 and 90 are mounted in the housing 56, engaging in sockets 9| carried by the housing 66 and electrically connected to the outer casing forming the housing t6. There is a socket 9| for the lamp 99 similar to the socket Si for the lamp 89. A substantially V-shaped contact member 92 is secured to a metal bushing 93 extending through the insulation l5 and a terminal 94 is connected to the bushing S3. A second substantially V-shaped contact S5 is secured toa metal bushing 96 disposed in the insulation l5 and projects across the adjacent end of one side of the contact 92, being disposed in spaced relation thereto as shown in Figure 5.

A connector 91 is connected at one end to the contact 95 and at the other end engages the central terminal 98 carried by the pilot 89. A second contact 99 of substantially V-shaped construction similar to the contact 55 is secured as by a fastening member |00 toa metal insert or sleeve l0! which is positioned Within the insulating member '15. The Contact member SQ projects across and in spaced rrelation to the opposite side of the V-shaped member 92 and is normally spaced from the contact 92. A pilot light connector strip |92 is connected at one end to the contact member 99, being interposed between the base of this contact member 99 and the insert and projects across or in intersecting relation to the connector strip 91, engaging the central terminal of the pilot light 90 in the same manner as the connector strip 91 engages the central terminal 98 in pilot light 89.

An upstanding pin |3 is secured at its lower end to the plate or armature 85 at one side of the center thereof and an upper insulation member |04 provided with a metal ring or contact member |05 is secured adjacent the upper end of the pin ID3. A second insulation member m6 is secured to the pin |03 in spaced relation to the insulation member |04 and is provided with a bridging ring |01. The circuit closing member is disposed between the sides of the V-shaped contact member 92 and upon rotation of the shaft 86 and the armature 85 in one direction the bridging member |il5 is adapted to engage one side of the contact member 92 and also the contact member S5, bridging the space between these two contacts and closing a circuit through the connector strip 91 to the pilot light S9. Upon rotation of the shaft 86 and the armature in the opposite direction, the bridging nieinber engages the opposite side of the V-shaped Contact member 92 and also the contact member 99. The second bridging member |i is adapted to engage a V-shaped contact member |83 constructed similar to the contact Si which is secured to a terminal |69 and connected to the terminal 8S by a connecting strip lit. minals and ||2 are connected to contact members similar in every detail to the contact members 95 and 9S so that rotation of the shaft 8E and the armature 85 will close a circuit to a selected pilot light and also a circuit to selected signal lights as will be hereinafter described.

rlhe shaft or stem 85 is provided with a flattened or cut-out portion lf3 confronting the two bridging members It and 5G? and is also provided with a second flattened portion iifl on i the upper end of which the handle 81 is mounted. A block I2@ is secured as by a set screw |2| to the shaft or stem 8E and is provided with a groove |22 on opposite sides thereof and also with a cut-out portion |23 in which the convolutions |24 of a handle returning spring are positioned. rEhe convolutions |2 engage about that portion of the stem 85 extending through the cut-out portion |23. The block or body I2@ is provided with an eccentrically disposed portion |25 and the two arms |26 formed with the spring iZii engage in the groove |22 on opposite sides of the eccentric portion |25 so that as the shaft or stern 85 is rotated one of these arms |25 will be swung about the axis of the shaft Preferably, a pair of pins |21 are secured to the frame 1t in spaced apart relation and the two arms |26 engage on opposite sides of the pins |2i. In this manner when the block |20 is swung in one direction, one of the arms i2@ will move therewith away from its associated pin |23' and the other arm will bear against its associated pin |21 so that the movable arm will be tensioned and act as a lever or handle returning means for returning the handle 8l to neutral or circuit breaking position. A pair of stop pins |23 are secured to the frame 'it and provide a means for limiting the swinging movement of the handle 81 through engagement of one of the spring arms |26 therewith.

Teri The switch operates as follows: The handle or operator 81 is turned so as to cause the two bridging members |05 and |01 to close the circuit between the V-shaped contacts 92 and selected contacts 95 or 99. At this time the circuit is also completed to the coil 19 so that the armature 85 is held against rotation and against the action of the U-shaped spring |26. The hand 81 will remain in the selected position until the handle is either manually operated to swing it to a circuit breaking position or until the circuits connected to the contacts 95 and 99 have been broken.

What I claim is:

l. A switch comprising a housing, an insulating member in the housing, a pair of spaced apart V-shaped contacts secured to said member, a pair of yieldable contacts associated with each of said pair of contacts and spaced therefrom, a shaft rotatably carried by said member, a disc-shaped armature fixed to one end of said shaft, a handle fixed to the other end of said shaft, a pair of spaced apart bridging contacts engageable with said V-shaped contacts and said yieldable contacts, means eccentrically securing said bridging contacts to said armature, yieldable means normally holding said bridging contacts in circuit breaking position between the divergent portions of said V-shaped contacts, and an electromagnetic holding means in said housing electrically connected to one of said pair of V-shaped contacts associated with said armature for holding said bridging contacts in circuit closing position.

2. A switch comprising a housing, an insulating member in the housing, a V-shaped `contact secured to said member, a pair of yieldable contacts associated with said contact and spaced therefrom, a shaft rotatably carried by said member, a disc-shaped armature fixed to one end of said shaft, a handle on the other end of said shaft, a pin fixed to said disc and disposed in parallel offset relation to said shaft, a bridging contact fixed to and insulated from said pin, said bridging contact being engageable with said V-shaped contact and a selected one of said pair of yieldable contacts, yieldable means engaging said shaft and said member normally holding said bridging contact in circuit breaking position between the divergent portions of said V-shaped contact, and electromagnetic holding means in said housing associated with said armature for holding said bridging contact in circuit closing position.

3. A switch comprising a housing, a U-shaped insulating member in the housing, a V-shaped contact xed to the bight of said member', a shaft journalled through one leg of said member, an armature on said shaft between the legs of said member, a pair of yieldable contacts disposed in spaced relation to the divergent arms of said first contact, a bridging contact offset from and rotatable with said shaft, said bridging contact being engageable with said V-shaped contact and a selected one of said pair of yieldable contacts, an electro-magnetic member fixed to the other leg of said insulating member and disposed adjacent to and axially aligning with said disc and electrically connected to said V-shaped contact, and yieldable means normally holding said bridging contact in circuit breaking position between the divergent portions of said Vshaped contact.

a. A switch comprising a housing, an insulating member in the housing, a V-shaped contact iixed to said member, a shaft rotatable in said housing, an operating handle on one end of said shaft, an armature on the other end of said shaft, a pair of yieldable contacts disposed in spaced relation to the divergent arms of said first contact, a bridging contact engageable` with said V-shaped contact and a selected one of said pair of yieldable contacts, means securing said bridging contact to said armature in offset relation to said shaft, an electromagnetic holding member electrically connected to said V-shaped contact and correlated with said armature for holding said bridging contact in circuit 'closing position, a laterally projecting part fixed to said shaft, a spring having a portion thereof about said shaft and a pair of spaced ends projecting outwardly of said part, and a pair of pins fixed to said insulated member and positioned between said projecting ends of said spring, said spring yieldably resisting rotation of said shaft in either direction and normally holding said bridging Contact in circuit breaking position between the divergent portions of said V-shaped contact.

5. A switch comprising a housing, an insulating member in the housing, a V-shaped contact fixed to said member, a shaft rotatable in said housing, an operating handle on one end of said shaft, an armature on the other end of said shaft, a pair of yieldable contacts disposed in spaced relation to the divergent arms of said rst contact, a bridging contact engageab-le with said V-shaped contact and a selected one of said pair of yieldable contacts, means securing said bridging contact to said armature in offset relation to said shaft, an electromagnetic holding member electrically connected to said V-shaped contact correlated with said armature for holding said bridging Contact in circuit closing position, a laterally projecting part xed to said shaft, a spring having a portion thereof about said shaft and a pair of spaced ends projecting outwardly of said part, a pair of pins fixed to said insulated member and positioned between said projecting ends of said spring, said spring yieldably resisting rotation of said shaft in either direction and normally holding said bridging contact in circuit breaking position between the divergent portions of said V-shaped contact, and a second pair of pins secured to said insulated member on opposite sides of said part and engageable with one of said projecting ends to limit the rotation of said shaft in either direction.

NORMAN D. BENSON. 

